French Quarter dog owners want city to consider making park mulit-use

French Quarter residents say it's been an unofficial off-leash dog park for almost 30 years now, but the future holds something different for Cabrini Park. The city has plans to revamp the small park, but those plans do not take the area’s pooches into consideration.

Wayne Wilkinson and his two red Dobermasn are longtime French Quarter residents, and for years have relied on Cabrini Park as a place for the dogs to stretch their legs.

“Most people don't have any place at their home because of small courtyards or no yard at all, so they bring their dogs here to Cabrini Park. It's really the only green space we have available within the French Quarter,” said Wilkinson.

Cabrini Playground is closed right now, but according to city plans, when it does reopen to the public it will no longer serve the same purpose to the people who live in this neighborhood and their pets.

City officials say they co-own the park with McDonough 15 School, and right now plans are in place to make repairs to the park so the school can use it for its physical education and sports programs.

Wilkinson says he and other residents understand this and came up with a plan to accommodate their needs and those of the school.

“We'd divide the park in half, one half for the dogs and the other for no dogs--walking trails and other amenities for people that live in the neighborhood,” said Wilkinson.

"Cabrini Park was not selected as being designated as an official dog park,” said Crawford.

Wilkinson hopes the city will reconsider so he does not lose a place he calls a "community connector."

“I know hundreds of because of this park,” said Wilkinson. “We come here every day. It's like in the suburbs. People go to soccer games with their kids at night, and that's how they get to know each other.”

City officials say dogs will still be allowed in this and all public parks, but under law, the dogs have to stay on a leash and owners must pick up their waste. People caught breaking these laws can be issued tickets.